The Indianapolis Colts are in a Catch-22 with running back Jonathan Taylor. The team could use him as much as they historically have, and he would get more than 300 carries in 2026. Or the team could try to conserve him this season and risk the offense being less efficient.
As smart as head coach Shane Steichen is in terms of constructing an offense, the truth is that his scheme doesn't work as well without Taylor being heavily involved. The player has single-handedly won games for Indy in the past, such as the team's Week 10 matchup last season against the Atlanta Falcons when Taylor had 286 total yards and three touchdowns.
The depth behind Taylor is iffy, but using him too much could cause him to get hurt. The plan this coming season, however, appears to be that Indy will lessen the burden on the running back by dialing back his reps.
Indianapolis Colts' planned use for Jonathan Taylor is a Catch-22
If the Colts had recently been in the playoffs, the issue with Taylor running the ball less wouldn't matter as much. People such as head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard would be confident that they would remain in their positions for the foreseeable future. That shouldn't be the reality of their current situations, though.
Should Indianapolis miss the playoffs again, and the team hasn't tasted the postseason since 2020, Taylor's rookie season, Ballard and Steichen could be let go. For the team to be at its best, the star running back needs to be on the field. Again, it's a Catch-22 that goes well beyond whether the offense is good or elite.
The other factor is that Jonathan Taylor is set for free agency next offseason. How he performs in 2026 will, of course, have a bearing on how much he gets paid in his new deal. He is still just 27 years old, but the NFL is leery about paying running backs top money if teams think a back is beginning to diminish. That happens faster at running back than most other positions.
Taylor has led the league in rushing attempts twice, including 2025 when he ran the ball 323 times. In three seasons, he has rushed 303 times or more. That is extremely heavy use, and while he has been terrific specifically, the team overall hasn't been. In other words, Taylor being elite (and having had 11 touchdowns or more in four of his six seasons) hasn't been the team being good.
The hope, of course, is that Taylor is used slightly less while maintaining his high level of production, but that the Indianapolis Colts also reach the playoffs, where the running back can do some real damage. After the season, the team re-signs Taylor, and he finishes his extraordinary career with Indy. That best-case scenario is a definite possibility.
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